Two female occupational therapy students practicing skills in a wheelchair

An Occupational Therapy Graduate Program Based in Faith

When you earn your occupational therapy master’s degree at AHU, you’ll immerse yourself in the spiritual side of care. We emphasize a faith-based approach to healing that will prepare you for wholistic, empathetic practice that prompts you to view the patient as a whole person.

You will have unique opportunities for community service and clinical experiences in our Matthew 25 occupational therapy course through AHU’s Hope Clinic. You’ll learn firsthand how spirituality and healing overlap as you help patients live fuller lives.

Hands-On Learning. Real-World Environment.

At the core of our occupational therapy graduate program is a focus on real-world experience that goes beyond the classroom. Our occupational therapy courses integrate hands-on labs and simulations with actors to improve your client interaction and practice skills. Classes meet primarily on-campus, two days per week, ensuring time to explore a variety of fieldwork experiences and participation in research projects, individual study, and group projects.

When you complete your master’s degree in occupational therapy, you’ll already have an impressive resume of experience that speaks to your commitment to learning and caring for others.

The logo for the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy
High Standards for Excellence

Our Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program at AdventHealth University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-6611 and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination of attain state licensure.

An occupational therapy faculty member demonstrating pediatric treatment to a group of students

Launch Your Occupational Therapy Career

Occupational therapists are resourceful and compassionate health professionals who develop and implement thoughtful therapy programs for people who struggle with many daily activities.

One of the biggest rewards of earning an occupational therapy master’s degree is the freedom to start a career in a wide variety of settings. Occupational therapists work in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, children’s hospitals, mental health facilities, and nursing homes throughout the country. Where you end up depends on your interests and specialties. Our affiliation with AdventHealth means more opportunities for our graduates to find employment within this large and internationally recognized health system.

Some of the exciting positions you could seek with a master’s degree in occupational therapy from AHU include:

  • Occupational therapy supervisor
  • Director of rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation liaison
  • Occupational therapist

Many of our graduates choose to continue their training to focus on a specialty, such as hand therapy.

Occupational Therapy Graduate Program Outcomes

Thanks to our small class sizes, you will work closely with faculty who have expertise that covers all the primary practice settings. Several faculty mentors have advanced specialty practice certifications and are published researchers. By the time you graduate with your occupational therapy master’s degree, you will have a strong network of peers and dedicated faculty who can help you as you progress through your career.

Our program embeds experiential learning throughout all classes in the program, which we know contributes to our high MOT graduation rates ― we have a 93% average graduation rate over the past three academic years.

The results are clear: 100% of our MOT graduates pass the national board exam (NBCOT) and find occupational therapy positions within six months of passing the NBCOT.

Program Outcomes

The total number of graduates from AdventHealth University′s Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program during the 3-year period of 2021-2023 was 82, with an overall graduation rate of 93%. Our MOT graduates continue to have a 100% pass rate on the NBCOT exam. Details are available in AHU′s Performance report at the NBCOT website.

Graduation Year Students Entering/Graduating Graduation Rate
2022 28/26 93%
2023 27/24 89%
2024 24/20 83%
TOTAL 79/70 89%

NBCOT - Test Score Pass Rates Report

View NBCOT Report

What Our Graduates Say

We were prepared incredibly well to jump into practice without feeling completely overwhelmed or lost. Faculty pushed us while simultaneously encouraging us to do our best.

Heather Priore

Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, 2021

Take the First Step. Start Your Application.

Are you ready to begin a career in faith-based healing that will let you interact with clients of every age and cultural background? See firsthand how our occupational therapy courses will prepare you for the healing career of your dreams.